Celery is not just a vegetable! Here are its amazing properties.

We've all seen celery in the supermarket, right? Some people use it in salads and soups. But did you know that celery is not just something that adds flavor and texture to food, but also a super vegetable that provides many amazing health benefits to our bodies? Let's talk about this in a little more detail today.

What is this celery?

Simply put, celery is a fragrant vegetable. Consider that it belongs to the same family of plants as carrots, parsnips, fennel, and parsley, called Apiaceae. It has long been cultivated in the Mediterranean and Middle East. Since then, celery has been used as a food and as a medicine.

Celery stalks add a nice crunch to salads when eaten raw. They also add a nice aroma and flavor to soups and smoothies. Not only that, they are also full of antioxidants that prevent damage to our body's cells.

What are the benefits of celery for our body?

Celery is a vegetable that is high in fiber and nutrients, and low in calories. It is rich in potassium, vitamins, and antioxidants. Did you know that celery is 95% water?

But it has many other health benefits.

Helping to prevent cancer

The antioxidants in celery include the well-known ones like flavonoids and vitamin C, as well as special ones like lunularin and bergapten. These help neutralize chemicals called free radicals that occur naturally in our bodies and can damage cells and lead to diseases like cancer.

Controlling blood pressure

Celery is rich in a phytochemical called phthalide. This compound helps to relax the walls of our blood vessels, facilitating blood flow and reducing high blood pressure .

Preventing Alzheimer's disease

A compound called DL-3-n-butylphthalide, which is extracted from celery seeds, has been found to improve learning, thinking, and memory in mice. This suggests that it could help prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease. However, this is still only a mouse study. Further research is needed to determine whether it has the same effect on humans.

How nutritious is celery?

Like most vegetables, celery is mostly water. Its main nutrient group is carbohydrates, followed by protein and a very small amount of fat.

Celery is a good source of:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin K
• Potassium
• Folate
• Calcium

Think about these things when eating celery

If you eat too much celery, you may feel full or gassy . This may be because celery contains a compound called mannitol. This can sometimes lead to dehydration and problems like an imbalance in sodium levels in the body. So, like anything else, it's best to eat celery in moderation.

How do you prepare celery for eating?

Nowadays, you can buy celery at the store any time of the year.

Look for these things when buying:

Choose stalks that are tightly packed, light green, and fresh enough to snap when broken by hand. Dark green stalks have a slightly pungent flavor and aroma.

How to store:

After bringing it home, wash it well and store it in a polythene bag in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator, with some air circulation. It can be kept this way for about two weeks. If you want, you can also put it in the freezer to keep it for months.

Here are some ways to add it to your meals:

• Eat celery sticks with hummus.
• Chop and add to tuna salad or chicken salad.
• Stir-fry celery slices with red chilies in oil.
• Add chopped carrots and onions to homemade chicken noodle soup.
• Blend spinach, banana, and apple into a green smoothie.

What is Celery Root?

This is also called celeriac. This refers to the knobby, ball-like part of the celery root. It's a type of potato, like a turnip or parsnip.

Celery has a milder flavor, so it goes well with many dishes. It is often used as a substitute for potatoes. For example, you can make mashed potatoes with celery.

Celery Juice and Celery Salt

Celery juice is a drink made by squeezing fresh celery stalks through a juicer. If you don't have a juicer, you can also finely chop the celery, add a little water, and blend it in a blender, then strain through a clean cloth. You can also add a slice of lemon or a few apples to enhance the flavor.

Celery salt is a mixture of ground celery seeds and salt. It adds a salty, earthy flavor to foods. It can be used in place of regular salt in things like egg salad and tuna salad.

How to grow celery at home?

Some people think that celery is difficult to grow because it requires special soil and frequent watering. But with proper care, you can grow celery at home.

• Soil: Well-drained soil rich in organic matter, such as compost, is best. Test the soil before planting to determine what types of fertilizer are needed.
• Seedlings: Choose well-rooted seedlings. Plant them about 12 inches apart.
• Water: Celery plants need a lot of water. They need about 1-2 inches of water per week. When watering, water until the soil is thoroughly wet. Frequent watering will help you get a crisp, healthy celery crop.